Vault lowering device



' Dec. 12, 1950 c. A. LANDON VAULT LOWERING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIE. E

C. A. LANDON VAULT LOWERING DEVICE Dec. 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1946 Patenteci Dec. 12, 19 50 UNITED STATES rAT N OFFICE 2,533,592 v VAULT LOWERI-NG DEVICE Charles A. Landon, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Landon Equipment Company; Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 7 Application September 4,1946,-SerialNo.694,696

6 Claims. (01. 254-436) p This invention relates to a mechanism for lowering heavy reinforced concrete vaults or the like into an open grave.

In an effort to provide complete grave protection it is a common practice at the present time to encase the usual casket within a burial vault. Such burial vaults are customarily formed of asphalt or solid concrete reinforced with heavy steelrods and assembled in hermetically sealed vrelation'with a solid slab or base. Such structures are necessarily very heavy and it is accordingly highly desirable. to provide a mechanism for transporting such vaults and for lowering them into agrave.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is .to provide an improved vault lowering machine of relatively simple construction which-is capable of expeditiously handling the heavy loads imposed in vault transporting and lowering operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vault lowering apparatus of the type described,

the major load supporting framework of which may be constructed substantially entirely of welded metal tubing which is relatively inexpensive to. produce and which will require a minimum of maintenance attention in operation.

-A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the type described wherein a burial vault is supported by means of cables within a downwardly opening frame and may be lowered relative to said frame by manual operation of a pairof reeling devices upon which said .cable is wound.

- A further object of the invention is to provide an improved reeling apparatus adapted to be used with a vault lowering machine.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a vault lowering mechanism having an improved reeling apparatus which has a pluralityof rollers rotatably mounted for yielding engagement with-a grooved winding drum and including means associated with the drum and rollers for positively driving the latter at a speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the drum so that the cable is guided in the grooves therein without appreciable friction.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is an over-all perspective view of a complete vault lowering machine in accordance with the present invention showing a burial vault in operative position therein;

Fig. 2 is ,a transverse CIQSSfSBCfiOfiQJ view through the vault lowering machine of Fig. 1 taken in the vertical plane which includes the axis of the cable winding drums;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through the right-hand cable drum shown in Fig. 2 but to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially along the line -5-.5 of Fig. 3;

Fig.5 is a fragmentary detail ,view of the mounting of one of the roller supporting arms illustrated in Fig. i, but with its associated gear removed; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view to .a reduced scale taken substantially a o g the line i i f Fig. 3.

Refer in t the draw n s and i P tic t Fig. 1 thereof, the improved vault lowering ma;- chine comprises a downwardly opening frame having upper and lower side rails 1-9 and L2, re spectively, interconnected by vertical braces II and diagonal bracts i3. The upper side rails Ill are interconnected by a plurality of transverse braces I 4 and the lower ,side rails 12 are bent upwardlyadiacent one end v .to form inclined portions It secured adjacent the respective ends of the upper side rails ii). The structure thus far described is preferably constructed entirely of weldedsteel or other ui-table ,rnetal tubing which is relatively inexpensive and strong and at the same time maybe readily fabricated.

A pair of main ground contactin Wheels l8 are mounted at opposite sides of the frame upon axles 29 which extend through apertures formed in the lowerportionstof arms :22 constituting the bottom portions of .a pair of vertical pedestals 24. The pedestals 2a are preferably constructed as metal stampings which may be welded or otherwise secured to the upper and lower side rails it] and 12. The pedestals 24 are also preferably made as Jigh-tasDQSSIbIe consistent with the loads to be handled and to this end typical lightening holes have been indicated by reference numerals 26. Apa-inof smaller aux-iliaryrwheels 2,8 are rotatably mounted at the rear of the frame upon axles 3i) mounted withinclevises tormedsbythe bottom ends of the vertical braces ii and tubular struts 32 attached {to :and {extending outwardly and downwardly :from the lower side rails 42.

A pair .of housings .is mounted on the top of the frame at opposite sides thereof adjacent the pedestals 754 and each includes a pair of generally circular, parallel end plates 35 and 36, the outer :-pla'te:34of-each pairbeing suitably attached as by welding or the like to its associated pedestal 24 and the inner plate of each pair being similarly secured to adjacent horizontal braces M; A hollow cylindrical casing 38 extends between each pair of end plates 34 and 36, being suitably attached in any convenient manner to the peripheral edges of the latter and each casing 38 is provided with horizontal slits 49 in its opposite side walls.

A plurality of idler pulleys 4| (Figure 1) are rotatably mounted in housings 42 attached to the top of the frame, one pair being shown at opposite sides adjacent the front end thereof and another pair being shown at opposite sides adjacent the tops of the vertical braces I I. These idler pulleys are adapted to receive a pair of cables 44 and 45 which extend from reeling mechanism within the casings 39 to be later described, and through the slits 49 in said casings. Upon leaving the 'pulleys 4I the cables 44 and 45 extend downw wardly as continuous loops and are shown as being engaged within a pair of grooves 46 formed by downwardly projecting lip portions 48 in the opposite end walls of a burial vault 59, the cables thus serving to support the vault within the frame and out of contact with the ground.

The specific details of construction of a preferred form of reeling apparatus adapted to be -used in conjunction with a vault lowering machineis best illustrated in Fig. 3. As shown in this figure, each of the end plates 34 and 36 is provided with a centrally located main bearing 52 in which are journalled one end and an intermediate portion, respectively, of a through shaft 54. Generally cylindrical drums 56 are at- 'tached in any suitable manner as by means of keys 55 to the shaft 54 between each pair of end plates 34 and 36 and are provided with helthe cables 44 and 45 track as they are wound upon the drums.

As shown particularly in Fig. 5, each drum 56 is adapted to receive one of the ends of each *ical grooves 58 in their outer peripheries in which of the cables 44 and 45 which are anchored by -means of setscrews 69 in holes '62 drilled into "the drums. Only one of the holes 62 and its associated setscrew 69- is illustrated in Fig. as locking the end of cable to the drum, although it will be understood that a similar fitting is provided for attaching the cable 44 to the drum.

It should also be noted in Fig. 3 that the helical grooves 58 are formed longitudinally in opposite hand from the center of each drum 56 and that the cables 44 and 45 are wound in the same rotational direction thereon as shown in Fig. 5.

Therefore, the cables 44 and 45 will be wound or unwound uniformly and simultaneously upon rotation of the shaft 54. Further, it will be understood that the opposite ends of the cables 44 and 45 are similarly anchored and wound upon the drums 56 in the other casing 38 in such manner that both ends 0f both cables will be simultaneously wound or unwound by rotation of the shaft 54 in a single direction in order that both ends of the vault may be raised or which extends rearwardly along the top of the frame and is provided with an operating handwheel 2 at its rearward end. The gear 64 and its associated worm gear 68 are contained within a housing I4 having apertured lugs "I6 adapted to be secured to the adjacent pair of transverse brace I4 as by means of bolts I8. The lower portion of the housing I4 is provided with a pair of bearings 89 which serve to rotatably mount the worm gear 68 and its associated shaft I9 in position to engage the gear 64.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, it will be noted that the inner face of each of the plates 34 and 36 is provided with a plurality of arcuate arms 82, in the present case four in number, pivotally mounted at one end as indicated by reference numeral 84 upon a plurality of bosses 85 preferably formed integrally with and projecting inwardly from the respective end plates 34 and 36 at points spaced substantially evenly about the periphery of the latter. The free ends 86 of the arms 82 are attached to tension springs 88 which are secured at their opposite ends to ribs 99 formed integrally withthe respective end plates, in such manner as to urge the free ends 85 towards the centers of said plates.

Each of the arms 82 as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 6 is provided with a bearing opening 92 intermediate its free and pivoted ends in which is arranged the shaft end 94 of a roller 99. The shaft ends 94 project through thebearing openings 92 and are received within enlarged bores 95 formed in the bosses 85 of sufficient size to permit appreciable lateral movement of the shaft ends 94 therewithin. In the preferred embodiment illustrated there are four such rollers 9'6 and it will be understood that their shaft ends 94 are journalled in bearing openings 92 formed in pairs of opposite arms 82 in such manner that the longitudinal axis of each roller 96 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 54, while the periphery of each roller is adjacent the periphery of its associated drum 56.

Since the free ends 86 of the arms 82 are yieldingly urged toward the main bearings 52 in the center of each end plate, it follows that the bearing openings 92, due to their location intermediate the free and pivoted ends of the arms 82, may likewise yield slightly relative to the drum 56 to whatever extent necessary to accommodate the cables 44 and 45 between the drum 56 and the rollers 96.

Referring again to Figs. 3 and 4, the shaft ends 94 of the rollers 96 adjacent each outer end plate 34 are provided with pinions 98 secured thereto and adapted to mesh with a gear I99 suitably attached as by means of a key I92 to the shaft 54. The diameters of the gear I99 and pinions 98 are so proportioned relative to the diameters of the drums 56 and rollers 96 as to cause the latter to be positively driven at a peripheral speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the drums so that the cables 44 and 45 are urged to track in the grooves 59 with substantially no friction being caused by the rollers 96.

The operation of the device will now be readily understood from the following brief description. It will be assumed that a grave has been prepared and a vault base or slab has already been lowered in position in the bottom of the grave with a casket in place thereon so that all that remains to be done is to lower a vault into the grave in correct position to rest upon and engage the base. The vault lowering machine is then placed in the condition in which it appears in Fig. 1. or the drawings with the cables 4.4 and 45. looped around the respective ends of the vault 5.0 and firmly engaged within the grooves 4s therein to support the vault within the downwardly open frame and out of contact with the ground.

The apparatus may then be pushed or-otherwise moved on its, wheels [8 and 23 into position over the open grave so that upon rotation. of the operating handwheel E2 the cables 44 and 45 will be simultaneously unwound from their respective drums, 56' to lower the vault evenly into. the grave. During the actual lowering. operation the manually operable mechanism including particularly the worm gear 63 serves as. a. brake, the

vault descending under the influence. of gravity.

Also, at this. time the cables Mnand 45 are tracked within the grooves 58 and are yieldingly held there n by means of the rollers 96. which are pressed against the cables and the drums by means of the tension springs 88-;

When the vault 50 has been fully lowered into position on its associated slab within the grave, the cables 44 and d5 may be disengaged from the grooves 46 and rewound upon their respective drums 56 by reverse rotation of the handwheel 72. During this rewinding operation the yieldable mountin of the rollers 96 insures proper tracking of the cables within the grooves 58. In this connection, attention is invited to the fact that in the lowering of the vault, the cable which is already arranged in the grooves of the drum, will be unwound under the influence of the substantial weight of the vault. Under such conditions, there is no problem involved in maintaining the proper tracking of the cables.v

However, difficulty is often encountered in the raising of the cables after the top of the vault has beenrdeposited on the base thereof and the cables 44 and 45 are released from the vault to be wound. Under these cond'tions,. the cables are slack and they frequently bring up with them chunks of dirt or mud adhering thereto. This foreign material, in contacting with the drums, tends to raise the cable above its groove and thus cause the cable to become untracked. With the present mechanism, the rollers 96 exert force against the cables to feed them into their tracks, the force exerted being sufiicient to break and loosen from the cables any foreign material which may have adhered thereto.

The rollers E35 are urged inwardly by the springs 88 to exert the necessary force for the purpose stated. However, assuming that small chunks of dirt or the like, carried to the drums by the cables,

may become lodged in the grooves of the drums, such particles cannot be compressed and possibly not dislodged, thus causing the cable to be pushed outwardly at least to some extent. This outward force is accommodated by the springs 88.

It is also particularly pointed out that the linear speeds of the rollers 96 and drums 56 are equal, as previously stated, and accordingly there is a rolling engagement of the rollers 96 with the cables rather than a frictional rub. Wear on the cables is thus prevented.

While the cable tracking device per se has been specifically described in connection with a vault lowering mechanism, it will be obvious that the device, for example as illustrated in Figure 3, is capable of general use in the art of winding and reeling.

I claim:

1. A burial vault lowering apparatus comprising a pair of winding and unwinding units, each unit comprisinga drum, having oppositely pitched helical. grooves in each of which one end ofa cable is adapted to be wound, a. pair of end 'me'mbers rotatably supporting said drum, a plurality of armspivotally connected at one end to each of said end members a plurality of rollers each rotatably' supported at its ends by and intermediate the ends of arms carriedby the respective end members and adapted to engage cables being wound in said grooves, and resilient means connecting the other end of each arm to the adjacent end member whereby said rollers are urged intp engagement with the cable being wound on said drum, and common means for driving bothof saiddrums.

2. A burial vault lowering apparatus com-prising apair ofwi-ndingand unwinding units, each unit comprising a drum having oppositely pitched helical grooves'in each of which one endof a cable is adapted to be wound, apair of end members rotatably supporting said drum, aplurality of arms pivotally connected at one end to each of said end members, a plurality of rollers each rotatably supported at its ends by and intermediate the ends of arms carried by the respective end members and adapted to engage cables being wound in said grooves, resilient means connecting the other" end of each arm to the; adjacent end member whereby'said' rollers are urged into engagement with the cable being wound on said drum, and drive means between said drum and said rollers for rotating, the latter at a peripheral speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the portions of the cables. engaged by said rollers, and common means for driving both of said drums.

3'. A burial. vaultv lowering apparatus comprising apair of winding and unwinding units, each unit comprising, a drum having oppositely pitched helical grooves in each of which one end of'a cable. is adapted to be wound, a pair of end members rotatably supporting said drum, a plurality of arms pivotally connected at one end to each of said end members, a plurality of rollers each rotatably supported at its ends by and intermediate the ends of arms carried by the respective end members and adapted to engage cables being wound in said grooves, resilient means connecting the other end of each arm to the adjacent end member whereby said rollers are urged into engagement with the cable being wound on said drum, a gear carried by said drum, and a pinion carried in each roller and meshing with said gear, said gear and said pinions being so proportioned that each of said rollers will be rotated at a peripheral speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the portions of the cables engaged by said rollers, and common means for driving both of said drums.

4. A burial vault lowering apparatus comprising a pair of winding and unwinding units, each unit comprising a drum havin oppositely pitched helical grooves in each of which one end of a cable is adapted to be wound, a pair of end members rotatably supporting said drum, a plurality of arms pivotally connected at one end to each of said end members, a plurality of rollers each rotatably supported at its ends by and intermediate the ends of arms carried by the respective end members and adapted to engage cables being wound in said grooves, resilient means connecting the other end of each arm to the adjacent end member whereby said rollers are urged into engagement with the cable being wound on said drum, a. gear carried by said drum, and a pinion carried in each roller and meshing with said gear, said gear and said pinions being so proportioned cent the bottom of said frame, housings mounted at opposite sides adjacent the top of said frame, each comprising a pair of generallycircular end plates each of said plates including a centrally located main bearing therein, a pair of cylindrical drums rotatably mounted in said main bearings each having helical grooves in its periphery and a coaxial main gear attached thereto, a pair of cables wound on said drums and adapted to engage said vault, a plurality of arcuate arms pivotally mounted at one end at points spaced substantially evenly about the periphery of said plate, auxiliary bearings on said arms intermediate the free and pivoted ends thereof, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in said auxiliary bearings each including a coaxial auxiliary gear attached thereto and adapted to mesh with said main gear, spring means attached to the free ends of said arms and urging said rollers towards the centers of said plates, a shaft interconnecting said drums having a drive gear thereon, a worm gear in mesh with said drive gear, and an operating wheel having mechanical connection with said worm gear for rotating the latter, the diameters of said main and auxiliary gears being so proportioned as to cause said rollers to be positively driven at a peripheral speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of said drums whereby said cables are urged to track in said grooves with substantially no friction.

6. A burial vault lowering apparatus comprising an elongated frame, a shaft rotatably supported by said frame and projecting transversely thereof, a drum carried by said shaft adjacent each end thereof, each drum having oppositely pitched helical grooves, a cable wound around one groove of each drum and around one groove of the other drum, a pair of pulleys carried by said frame adjacent each end thereof and around which the cables pass from the respective grooves around which the ends of the cables are wound whereby the looped portion centrally of the length of each cable and between the associated pair of said pulleys is adapted to depend therefrom for engagement with an end portion of a burial vault, means for rotating said shaft to $1- multaneously rotate said drums and accordingly simultaneously wind or unwind said cables, an arm pivotally supported at one end adjacent each end of each drum, a roller rotatably supported by the arms of each drum intermediate the ends of such arms and engageable with the cables to tend to hold them in their grooves, and a spring connected to the other end of each arm to urge each roller toward its associated drum.

CHARLES A. LANDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

